Douglas Alfred Watkins enlisted with The Royal Scots Fusiliers 17 April 1941. He joined the airborne forces in 24 May 1944. Before enlisting his trade was listed as "Cellulose Sprayer". 

Douglas successfully passed parachute jump instruction at RAF Ringway on Course 121. This course ran between 18/19 June 1944 to 3 July 1944. His jump instructor noted that Douglas was : "Good performer, quiet but keen and a good team man."

He was then posted to The 9th (Essex) Parachute Battalion and saw operational service in the Luneburg and Wismar area. Douglas was released from Regular Army service and joined the Reserves 20 October 1946. 

John Watkins, son of Douglas added:

"Douglas was born in Nov 1920 in Whetstone, Middlesex to Alfred and Ellen Watkins, Alfred had recently returned from WW1 where he served in the RAMC. Ellen brought up the older two children while he was away. Douglas attended school in Whetstone and lived in the area all his life. His brother, Ted , joined the RSF in the mid-twenties as a regular and served until the end of WW2.

After WW2, Douglas returned to his trade as a cellulose sprayer and met Joan Powell working at the same firm. They married in 1947 and Douglas Jr (me) was born in 1948. When not working, Douglas tended his garden and allotment, enjoyed reading and listening to the radio, and taught himself to play the guitar. His favourite guitarist being Django Reinhardt.

Sadly, in the early sixties he contracted a debilitating illness and despite continual care and treatment by the NHS, he passed away in Jan 1966."

The photos attached to this profile were taken by Douglas and kindly donated to ParaData by his son John Watkins